Clearwater Beach, Florida and Pier 60

Clearwater Beach is a
busy,
visitor-oriented vacation destination. It has everything a visitor
looking for entertainment could want, all contained within a few blocks. There is plenty of nightlife for singles too. In
fact, Clearwater Beach attracts a much younger crowd overall than most
of the Gulf Coast. It is clean,
modern, and has lots to do. There are
all types of boat tours, fishing charters, dolphin-watching cruises,
dinner cruises, beach clothing stores, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc.
Of course all this activity contributes to a substantial traffic and parking
problem. One can use the
Jolley Trolley to get around.
Clearwater Beach Parking Information

View of Clearwater Beach from Pier 60. The large pink hotel at center is the Hyatt. Tall buildings at right are across Clearwater Pass on Sand Key.

Clearwater Beach is very
swimmer friendly and has lifeguards. The water is usually calm and
reasonably clear. In the photo above, which was taken from the pier, the big
hotel in the middle is the Hyatt Regency.

Getting to Clearwater Beach

If you are flying into Tampa, or driving through Tampa on your way from
Orlando, Clearwater Beach is the closest beach. Highway 60 brings you right
to the beach. Coming from most anywhere else, US 19 is the best choice,
though it can get congested.

The beach is
beautiful and white. The pier, called "Pier 60," affords a nice view and is THE place to be
at sunset and the water is
generally shallow and reasonably clear most of the time. There is
entertainment on and around the pier at night with arts, crafts, music, and
street performers. Busy place, Clearwater Beach. If you are looking for
a quiet get-away, this is not the place for you.

I was standing on Pier 60 when I took this photo, looking north toward
the North Beach area and Caladesi Island in the far distance. The tall
buildings at right include the Sand Pearl and The Hilton.

Hotel Ideas on Clearwater Beach

The landmark hotel of Clearwater Beach
is the Hyatt Regency. It is front and center and within a few steps
walking distance of everything you need. Two of the top hotels Clearwater Beach
are the Sand Pearl and the
Clearwater Beach Hilton, both within steps of Pier 60. Or,
if you'd prefer a little distance from the hustle and bustle of
Clearwater Beach, just across the bridge to the south is the
Sheraton Sand
Key, which is next to
Sand Key Park, one of the best beach
parks in the area. Sure, there are hotels of all price ranges, but
for the best experience, go with one of the better hotels. It's
worth the money.

This is a great view of Clearwater Beach and the Hyatt Regency
Hotel.

If you are considering reserving a hotel in the city of Clearwater and making the drive out to
the beach, that's probably not the best strategy for this area
considering the traffic congestion. A better plan might be to look
for a smaller hotel or
rental in Indian Rocks Beach about 15 minutes
south of Clearwater Beach. You could easily drive up to Clearwater
Beach for the day every day if you prefer.

The Beach

The main public access is at Pier 60. Parking and access is provided
along the beach for several blocks south of the pier. The area along
South Gulfview Blvd from Clearwater Pass to Pier 60 is where most of
the parking, hotels, restaurants and shopping are concentrated. You
can park your car and never need it again the rest of the day. If
you are staying in one of the hotels close to the pier you could
stay here for weeks without needing a car.

Clearwater Beach from the south end, looking north toward Pier 60.

North of the pier there are access trails at each street end, but
parking is limited and is no longer free. Further north still, the
beach gets very quiet because the beach access points do not provide
parking spaces for cars. Although the beach access points are
limited, the beach itself is open to the public everywhere. So you
could walk from Pier 60 along the beach for about 5 and a half miles
to the north tip of
Caladesi Island.

Below is a video I created on how to use features of Google Maps to
plan your hike from Pier 60 to Caladesi Island. It is best viewed in
full-screen mode:

Here's an evening view of Clearwater Beach hotels, taken from the
pier.

The beach is white quartz sand and is regularly raked and manicured
by the authorities. Excellent lifeguard protection is available
during posted hours. There is also law-enforcement on site if
needed. This is always a good idea when so many people congregate in
one place. It is a safe, clean, family atmosphere, even after dark.

Pier 60 is the focal point for activity on Clearwater Beach.

Standing on Pier 60 gives you
a great view of the beautiful white sand beach and it's a great
place to go for a stroll and take photos. Vendors set up shop on the
pier and sell all sorts of arts and crafts.

Clearwater Beach attracts quite a crowd. Best practice
is
to get here early to find a parking spot, unless you happen to be
staying right on the beach, in which case traffic and parking is no concern.

Vendors and browsers on Pier 60, right before sunset.

Right behind the
beach is Gulfview Blvd, with all its shops and restaurants. You can
walk just about anywhere in 10 minutes, so you don't even need a car
to go shopping, or to have lunch, dinner, or drinks. There are plenty of wide sidewalks
everywhere, so walking around is safe and easy.

The water here is great for swimming. It is usually calm and the
beach is wide and flat--great for walking.

Shells on Clearwater Beach

Most all of the Gulf beaches have shells, and that includes Clearwater
Beach. The best shelling occurs right after storms or strong winter cold
fronts which wash lots of fresh new shells onto the beach. The first low
tide after a strong cold front is usually the most productive time for
shelling. The earlier you arrive on the beach, the more likely you are to
get the best selection of shells.

Nature on Clearwater Beach

Although the Pier 60 area is highly developed, nature is not too far
away. Both Caladesi Island and
Honeymoon Island are nearby and make a great
day trip.

Strolling along the Clearwater Beach promenade with the beach to the left
and South Gulfview Blvd to the right.

Crabby's Bar & Grille; just one of many cafe-style restaurants serving up
food along Clearwater Beach.

Fisherman's view of Pier 60. You have to pay to walk beyond the bait shop
on the pier, so the crowd thins out quite a bit.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is just a few blocks off the beach, but
you'll probably want to drive there, or take the trolley.

The Palm Pavilion provides on-the-beach food and drink on the north side
of Pier 60.

This is the bridge over Clearwater Pass. I'm standing on the Sand Key
side of the bridge looking at Clearwater Beach on the other side. You can
walk across the bridge. The top of the bridge is a great place to snap
photos.

Below is a video with some great tips for enjoying Clearwater Beach safely: